Look at this adorable starter pot Angie gave me, with a cute little purple tomato seedling in it:
That starter pot is a goose egg. She told me to chip out a little of the bottom when I plant it. Being in the egg shell will supply calcium to the tomato as it grows. I just love that! She gave me two goose eggs for us to eat and those are some BIG eggs! Bernie and I scrambled one and split it for breakfast yesterday. It was absolutely delicious. I cracked it up high so I can use it as a starter pot for another tomato.
If I had geese I would certainly use the egg shells to plant all my tomatoes. But I don’t. What I do have is a bunch of toilet paper and paper towel rolls we’ve been saving. And today we used them to make several starter pots.
We cut the paper towel rolls down to roughly the same size as the toilet paper rolls. Then we just folded over and tucked one end of each.
Bernie does a far better job at this than I do.
Many of the ones I made have small gaps in them. But that’s ok. They’ll will get a couple of small rocks in the bottom before adding the soil and they will be fine.
I had hoped to get all my seeds started this weekend in the greenhouse, but there are just not enough hours in the day…… It’s ok. They won’t be able to be put in the ground until the 2nd or 3rd week of May, so they have time.
I hope this is a good year for gardens. I’m so excited to move past the brutal winter we’ve all had this year. How about you? Are you starting your garden yet?
Tags: egg shell seed starter pot, paper towel roll seed starter pot, toilet paper roll seed starter pots
How many months of toilet paper holders is that? LOL I always plant to save mine then forget to actually do it. I did save them one year and made fire starters that looked like big firecrackers. I want a greenhouse! I could do a hoophouse but I really want one with the polycarb or glass panels.
Such neat ideas! I’m either lazy or just “lucky” that I live in the south. My seeds have already been planted for a week now straight in the ground.
I still have so much more to plant though. I’m trying something new this year…..planting by the moon and month phase. I’m interested to see if it actually makes a difference. Last year planting the old way I didn’t get very much from the garden. I’ll be interested in how it turns out.
Love ya Penny!
Julie
Angie – we got our greenhouse from Costco. Ours is 10′ X 12′. It has the poly carb panels that filter out the burning rays. I wish we could have built it – but we had neither the time or the know-how. It was worth it. We lined the floor with gravel – and the gravel soaks in and hold heat. I put all the plants I wanted to keep on the floor this winter so they would have the extra warmth – and I painted MANY milk jugs black, filled them with water, and put them in between all the plants. They soaked up the warmth from the sun all day and NEVER froze. Even when the temps were in the teens for days on end……
Julie – hush up heifer! I am SO jealous. I definitely miss the long growing season of Georgia. *sigh* And I miss you too
Did you plant the loofah yet? Let me know how planting by the moon phases goes for you. I’ve read about that and wondered if it really matter? Love you.
That’s a great use for goose egg shells. I may try the starter pots. I won’t need many since I only have a few plants in my squares.
I love the goose eggshell. What a great idea. I am trying soil blocking with mixed results. Having some mold issues with a few of the longer germinating seeds. I think I might follow your lead and use the TP rolls. Happy Planting!
I have never heard of starting plants in eggshells. The long winter has got me so delayed here, I may cancel the garden for a year. Good luck, because I may be gardening vicariously through you this year, ha, ha! (no pressure!)
Just found your site via Back to Basics on FB. Love it! I am just getting started gardening and trying to simplify life and indeed, get back to the basics. We are living in town for now, so I won’t be able to do as much as I’d like, but hopefully we’ll be able to make good progress. Looking forward to future posts!
Jodi
WOW what a great idea!! and I do have geese…. hum….. Today was spectacular – outside all day getting the garden ready
Someone I know make extra large deviled eggs with their goose eggs and took them to a church supper… but everyone was too freaked out by the ‘dino eggs’ and they didnt eat them! But what a great idea for kids.
that is a great idea, and I would have never thought of using egg shells. thank you for the tips.
Ive been saving all the loo roll middles to
x
FABULOUS idea with the gooseeggs!!! I WILL try it as soon as I find some geese : )
I have a friend with Emus… might have to try THAT.
I use toilet & paper towel rolls to start fires in the woodstove Dec-April.
Stick a dry pinecone in them and its like the 4th of July!
I wish I had some goats. Right now I have “BIG” goats…. Cows….
Take a look:
http://www.tailgait.blogspot.com
FABULOUS idea with the gooseeggs!!! I WILL try it as soon as I find some geese : )
I have a friend with Emus… might have to try THAT.
I use toilet & paper towel rolls to start fires in the woodstove Dec-April.
Stick a dry pinecone in them and its like the 4th of July!
I wish I had some goats. Right now I have “BIG” goats…. Cows….
Take a look:
http://www.tailgait.blogspot.com